Timing device



Nov. 11, 1941. G, c s 2,262,065

. TIMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1938 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gare/0" 5. Qy

g INYENTORa BY V ATTORNEY.

Nov. 11, 1941. G. c. SYREK 2,262,065

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TIMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 5 II IPHIIIIIIIIHIIIIII Gem/d 6? \Syre/f INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATESTATENT OFFICE.

Gerald G. Syrek, Vancouver, Wash.

Application October 24, 1938, Serial No. 236,709

5 Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices and is particularly adapted to be used in connection with the posting of time units, through the use of lamp banks, such as commonly used on race tracks and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a timer that will make and break contacts almost instantaneously.

Another object of the invention is to make and break a multiple of contacts practically simultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a timing device that will post information through lamp banks and so forth, at a number of different locations in synchronism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a design of contact brush and contacts that can be adjusted accurately, and maintained in accurate adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a contact brush that will close a multiple of contacts, but at the same time this brush only contacts one contact point directly, eliminating any chance of lag between each closure of contacts.

An still a further object of the invention is the snap action of opening and closing contacts through the use of spring tension between contacts.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims to follow.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the timing unit, looking towards the driven end showing the brush contact arm.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the timer, partially broken away for the convenience of illustrating the manner, also process of contacting is illustrated.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatical electrical wiring layout of the timer, in relation to the operating relay for controlling the posting of time units, which in this case is being done by quick acting lamps.

My new and improved timer consists of a main body I mounted upon a base 2, this body is preferably made of electrical insulating material, although I do not wish to be limited to this type of construction.

The purpose of this main body is to provide a structure for carrying all stationary contacts. A revolving brush arm 3 is mounted upon the shaft 4 and is revolved at a predetermined speed by a I51: source of power not here shown. A fiat spring brush 5 is mounted at th outer end of the arm 3 and may be adjustable, for instance, by the adjusting screw 6, which accurately positions the brush 5 relative to its distance away from the shaft 4.

An annular groove 1 surrounds the body I and is for th purpose of accommodating the operation of contacts. Contacts 8 are mounted within one of the side walls 9 of the groove and extend into the groove, best shown in Figure 3. A row of contacts I are mounted directly opposite on the other side wall II of the groove 1. A more complete description of these contacts will follow later.

Spring contact bars I2 are mounted in the body portion I, having their outer ends working freely within the groove 1 and the opposite end, which is anchored in the body portion, terminating in electrical terminals I3.

' Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the spring contact bars I2 assume a normal position just ahead of but not in contact with th contact terminals 8 and I 0. In operation the shaft 4 rotates carrying arm 3 and the brush against the outer ends of the contact bars I2, forcing the bar I2 against the contacts 8 and ID. The brush bar 5, as shown best in Figure 4, flexes, as shown, also flexing the contact bar I2 until it reaches a point where it slips off the end of the bar I2 striking the next.

bar I2A. Herein, is one of th secrets of quick breaking and making of contacts. When the brush 5 slips off the end of the bar I2 the flex within the bar I2 immediately breaks contact while the momentum developed within the brush bar 5 strikes the bar I2A a blow suflicient to carry it against contacts 8A and IDA, this completes an electrical circuit through the brush 5, contact bar IZA which in turn supply the contacts 8A and MA with electric energy which is delivered to their respective relays hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figure 6, the lamp banks I3, I4 and I 5 are shown herein to read twenty-eight and one-fifth seconds, these lamps are controlled by relay switches I6, I! and I8. While only three relays are shown the different lamp banks require more than one relay to control the stencilling out of the required numerals which will be more fully described later.

Electrical energy is supplied through the conductor l9 and through the brush 5 to the contact bar [2, conductor 20 to the main conductor 2|, lead 22 to the solenoid of th relay 23 thence to the line 24, completing the relay operating circuit, this causes the relay switch [6 to close an electric current into the contacts 25 and leads 26 leading to a lamp bank l5, completing the circuit through the proper lamps to give the reading controlled by the relay 23, this circuit is closed through the conductor 21, contact 28, through switch bar l6 into the contacts 25 and leads 26 to the proper lamps in lamp bank l5, thence to the main line supply 29.

Almost simultaneously with the contact of brush 5 with the bar [2 closing the above circuit, just described, the bar l2 strikes the contacts 8 and ID. We will not follow out the current through the contact l0. Current fiows through the conductor 30, conductor 3|, relay solenoid 32 into common conductor 24, completing relay circuit. The solenoid 32 closes the switch bar I! with the contacts 33 and contact 34, which will complete an electric current from the conductor 2?, contact 34, contact bar l1, contacts 33 and following the dotted indicating line 35 to the lamp bank l4 stencilling out the proper reading for that particular relay. It will be noted that there are a multiple of contacts l joined together, the reason for this is to retain the reading on the lamp bank l4 until the proper number of units are stenciled on the preceding bank which is adding up the proper units to equal the next denomination, which we have just described in the operation of relay 32.

Referring back again to the contacts 8, it will be noted that there are a great number of these contacts connected together through the conductor 8B, for the proper posting just described, which in this case represents ten complete groups of units of the contacts l0, which are indicated by numbers 36.

We will now follow an electric circuit from the contacts 8 to their respective relay, current fiows from the brush to the bar l2, contact 8, conductor 31 to solenoid 38, energizing the solenoid 38, this closes the contact bar [8 with the contacts 39 and supply contact 40, completing an electric circuit through the dotted indicating line 4! to the lamp bank l3, completing the reading of the lamp units in this hook-up. The leads 42 lead to the relays, not here shown, for operating the lamps within the bank l5, which would be four in number in this case, in order to take care of the other units. Conductors or leads 43 lead to the additional relays controlling the lamp bank M, not here shown. The conductors 44 lead to other relays, not here shown, for controlling a further reading on the lamp bank 13.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular hook-up of my timer with the mechanisms and relays to be operated, including the posting system shown, because my timer is adapted to be used in connection with many variations of mechanisms to be operated by a multiple switch mechanism of the type shown, described and claimed relating to my timer.

What is claimed to be new is:

l. A timer system control including a fixed body having an annular channel, an arm mounted for rotation on said body and carrying a finger depending within the channel, a series of spring contact members fixed in the base of the channel and extending into the path of movement of the finger, and a series of independent contacts extending through the walls of the channel and into the path of movement of the member, the member being normally free of engagement with the contacts and movable into electrical engagement with two such contacts in the movement of the member in response to the engagement and movement of the finger.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the contact member and finger are of spring type and wherein the finger bends the contact member engaged thereby toward and into engagement with the contacts, the finger riding off the member with an inherent spring tendency to snap into contact with the next successive member, whereby substantial continuity of contact is maintained.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the members are fiat spring strips embedded in the base of the annular channel with a lateral projection through the body for electrical connection, and wherein the contacts are in the form of points projecting through the opposite walls of the channel in the path of movement of the members and electrically connected beyond the body in the defined circuit.

4. A timer control comprising a fixed element, a successive series of fiexible contact members mounted in the element, a flexible energizing finger movable for successive engagement with the members and serving with the members to complete a circuit from a source of power, the cooperation of the finger and contact members serving to bend the respective members during engagement and tension the energizing finger for independent inherent movement when riding beyond a particular contact member, the inherent energization of the finger when released from a particular contact member causing such finger to immediately spring into engagement with a successive contact member for contact therewith, whereby to ensure a contact relation between the finger and successive contacts at a speed exceeding that incident to the bodily movement of the finger.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4 wherein the fixed element includes a plurality of fixed contact points arranged in spaced pairs, with each pair in position to be engaged by a contact member under the described movement of the energizing finger.

GERALD C. SYRE'K. 

